Knockdown container



red-tea Aug. 14, 194sl 'l UNITED STATES iutTeNT.- ori-'ics Appllolfbn 1, 1943, Serial N0. 474,331

l'cltims. '(01. 217-12) (Grantee meer the act of Maren s, isss, as .mariee ssrn so. 192s; sro o. c. mi

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in containers or boxes of the collapsible knockdown type and the main`obiects o! the improvements are:

First, to provide a strong, convenient, and mexpensive packing case or box that can be readily and easily taken apart for access to the contents thereof or for return shipment-in a nat, knockeddown condition.

Second, to permit the use oi lighter materials in the constructionof the box with a minimum requirement of metal or similar critical substance and without sacrificing sturdlness or'durability of structure.

Third, to provide a construction in which the corner brackets, are specially sheltered and protected from damage or injury in the knockeddown condition of the box as well as in the asl n r fasteners showing the component parts theresembled or loaded condition of the latter; such Fifth, to provide a knockdown box structure in which the elements forming the enclosing walls oi'l the box preferably though not necessarily are similar in construction and design whereby they can be used interchangeably to form the Atop, bottom and sides ofthe box, and

Sixth, to -provide a special and novelI type of in perspective;

Figure 7 isfa view in perspective of a fragment ofa corner bracketY showing a modification in the construction thereof.

I n the depicted embodiment of the invention,

`the box comprises a top member A, bottom member B and four side members C, D, E, and F. These members are identical in construction and y `design and hence may be used interchangeably to enclose the top. bottom and sides of the box. Each member comprises a body or panel of plywood or other desired material suitable for the intendedpurpose and lise of the box; the member being rectangular with adjacent sides unequal and opposite sides equal in length. Re-entrant angles or recesses are provided in the shorter sides of each panel at the corners of the panel, one side or edge surface I of each recess being perpendicular to the edge surface 2 ofthe adjacent shorter side of the paneland the other side or edge surface 3 of the recess being perpendicular'to the edge f surface 4 of the adjacent longer side'o! the lpanel.

The maximum'depth of the recess, measured along a the surface I from the edge 2 of the panel tothe vertex 5 of the angle does not exceed thethiek- `ness of the panel. The maximum length of the recess,. measured along the surface 3 i'rom the edge 4 of the panel to the vertex 5 of the angle is greater than the thickness of the panel in a ratio .of 5 to 1, approximately.

The box-forming members are respectively provided at each corner with two metal brackets corner'bracket andP locking key for connecting.-

the various' box-forming members at adjacent edges, and adapted to be readily stamped or other- `wise formed of spring steel or cheaper metal.

With the above'obiects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts'hreinafter more fully described and pointed out with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view oi a box'formed of members constructed and fully-assembled ac- 'cording to the invention;

G and H. Bracket G comprises a thin rectangular sheet of spring metal having longitudinal slots or cut-outs forming a pair of laterally spaced strips 8 o! appropriate length extending between and connected to non-slotted portions at each y end of the sheet which serve as attaching plates 1 and 8. Bracket H comprises asimilar sheet. ofl .metal also slotted longitudinally toprovide three laterally spaced strips 9 extending between and connected to attaching plates I0 and H. These'brackets may be cut out, stamped or otherwise formed individually in one piece from sultable metal. preferably springvsteel, and in :dnal form are substantially U-shaped/as shown in Fig. 6 with the attaching platesdisposed in spaced parallel planes and the strips bent to form substantially V-shaped loops inverted over and bridging the space between the plates on one side thereof. One portion or leg of each loop of a bracket is disposed in the plane of one of theattaching plates of the bracket (i. e. plates 'I and I I) to form a straight-line extension thereof and the other portion of the loop is inclined to the planes of the attaching plates to provide a sloping' surface extending obliquely from its junction with the other attaching plate of the bracket (i. e. plates B and III) tothe outer end of the other and straight portion of the loop.

Brackets G straddle the panel across the recesses in the shorter side of the panel with the outer ends of the bracket loops 8 flush with the adjacent edge surfaces 2 of the panel.` Brackets H are arrangedv at right angles to their ccmpanion brackets G and straddle the longer sides of the panel with the bracket loops 9 extending outwardly over the adjacent edge surfaces 4 of the panel a distance approximately equal to the 2 depth ofthe recesses or the height of the loops the various brackets is uniform so that the loops 6 of the bracketsv G of one panel. may be accommodated in the spaces between the loops 9 of the brackets H on the other panels. The brackets are shown securely attached to their respective panels by fasteners I2, such as rivets; bolt's, etc., connecting the attaching plates through the material of the panel. In lieu of fasteners I2 or as supplementary thereto, pointed projections or prongs I3, such as shown in Figure 7, may be formed or made integral with each attaching plate and pressed into the panel to fasten the bracket in place. The paired brackets G and H of each panel arefset back slightly from the corners of the panel as shown at I4.

In the assembled kor box-fonnng condition of the panels, the latter are arranged as shown in the drawings with the straight portions of the bracket loops on the inside of the box. Also, each panel has its shorter edges 2` overlapping the longer edges 4 of two parallel panels adjacent thereto and its longer edges overlapped by the shorter edges of two other .parallel panels adjoining therewith. By thisv arrangement the panels mutually support and reinforce one an- -other to provide a sturdy structure while at the same time providing for the interconnection of the brackets within the angles or'recesses at the corners of the box,'as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will be observed that in the setup condition of. the box, three pairs ofin-terconnected brackets appear adjacent each corner of the box and that they are disposed about axes mutually perpendicular and converging at the corner of the box. Since the inclined or oblique portions only of faces presented by the bracket loops are of advantage, also, in protecting the loops against damage or injury from protruding nails in floors yof trucks, cars, warehouses, etc. or from loose objects thereon and over which the box is inadvertentlyrolled or slid. Upon encountering such objects, the loops by reason of their Obliquity will readily slide or pass over same without tendency to snag thereon.

The interconnection of brackets G with brackets H is accomplished by the use of split tubular keys I5 of triangular contour conforming to the contour of the opening or passage through the loops of interengaged brackets. Each key is preferably formed of a rectangular sheet .of spring steel bent into triangular shape with the free ends I6 of the sheet bent inwardly of the key and in spaced relation along the middle of one side of the key to provide the slot II. By reason of the slot, the key can be expanded and contracted in size and the inturned ends I6 serve as stop flanges limiting the contraction of the key. The length of the key is preferably such that when the key is inserted in the loops, only a, slight portion thereof is exposed at the outer end of the loops, suiiicient to be grasped by pliers or other means for extracting the key. The key is normally oversized to the extent of requiring slight compression prior to insertion in the bracket loops and as it expands within the loops exerts a pressure against the loops which strengthens and reinforces the latter as well as serving to frictionally hold `the key in place.

Since the keys are not extended so as to ll out theV corners of the box or container, the weight of the loaded container does not fall on the exposed ends of the keys when the container is turned end for end or rolled over from corner to corner as is often practiced in shifting the container from one location to another. During such movement of the container, the weight strikes directly on the edges I4 of the container at a common meeting place or corner. This ccnstruction is advantageous not only in regards to affording protection to the keys and prolonging the usefulness of the same but also in respect to the amount of criticalmaterial required in their construction since the keys,'as well as the brackets, can be made of a lighter guage of metal than would otherwise suiiice.

against loss, the keys may be pinned or wired the loops are exposed at the edges of the box I and since these portions are set back from ythe corners and solid edges of the box, no contact occurs between the bracket loops and the ground or floor on which the box is supported, whether g metal brackets can be made of lighter material y than is required for ybrackets exposed to blows `and knocks incident to the shifting and transporting of loaded containers. The sloping surto the loopsof a bracket. To this end, certain loops of given brackets, such as the end loops of brackets H, are apertured as shown at I8 and a similar aperture I9 is provided in a side of key I5 near one end thereof. When the key is properly positioned within the loops of a bracket 4H, in either the setup or knockdown condition of the panels, the aperture I9 in'the key registers with one of the apertures I8 in the bracket and acotter-pin 2U is inserted in the registering apertures and clinched to hold the key in place.

In lieu of a cutter-pin, a wire-seal may be,used

to secure the key.

In order that the 'joints of the box or container maybe sealed and made impervious to moisture as far as practicable, each panel is provided with two ribsor strips of moulding 2i on its inner face and in parallelism with and respectively adjacent the longer sides or edges 4 of the panel. Each rib serves as a seat or support for packing or sealing elements and presents a flat face or side perpendicular to the inner face of the panel and substantially flush with the adjoining edge l of As a safeguard the panel. Seated in a longitudinal groove or channel in the iiat face of each rib is a sealing or packing element 22 of suitable composition, such as a rope of asphalt, oakum, or wax-treated material. These sealing elements preferably are circular in crosssection and extend slightly beyond the longer sides4 of the panels so'that-in the setup condition of the panels, the elements oi.' each panel are engaged by the adjacent shorter sides 2 of adjoining panels. as will be understood from Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. When the panels of the container are drawn together by the insertion of the keys I5 in the cornerv brackets, the various sealing ele-l ments are thereby automatically compressed and attened between their respective seating channels and the adjacent confronting portions oi.' the poses. 4

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 1. A knockdown container comprising identical rectangular wall-forming members respectively of greaterlength than width and provided with tween and connecting adjoining members across the intervening corner recesses in set back rela'- tionto the corners and the said solid edge portions of the containers whereby when the container is turned end over end or about any edge thereof the weight or load of the container is sustained solely by the solid edges of the container and the fastening means shielded against damage or injury.

3. In a knockdown container, the combination of identical rectangular wall-forming members individually of greater length than width and collectively arranged in box-:formation with the shorter sides of each member overlapping adjacent longer sides of two adjoining members, each member having corner recesses in its shorter sides exposing edge portions of the adjacent vlonger sides of the adjoining members and forming therewith reentrant angles in the corner edges of the container, loops/,secured to each member at the shorter sides thereof in setback relation to the corners and disposed within the corner recesses, other loops on each member projecting beyond `the longer sides thereof in setback relation to the corners of the member, said other loops being complementary Ito and interfitting with the loops in the adjacent corner relight or heavy articles an for many other purcesses of adjoining members, Vsaid loops being triangular in cross-sectionand extending obliquely across the reentrant angles 'in .the con- `tainer, and normally oversized split tubular keys of elastic material and'triangular contour extending within and tensionally connecting intere reentrant'recesses in the shorter sides thereof at the corners, said members being relatively arranged in box-formation with the shorter sides of each member overlapping adjacent longersides of two adjoining members to provide -at each corner of the container three mutually perpendicular reentrant recesses, angle loops secured to the said members inset-back relation to the corners of the members, the loops of each member interiltting with the loops on the adjoining members across the intervening recesses, said loops having at surfaces extending obliquely of the recesses and split tubular pins extending through and expanded Within interiitting loops with slight p'ortions only of the pins exposed at the outer ends of the loops.

. 2. A knockdown container comprising identical top, bottom, side and end members each of which is rectangular with its adjacent sides unequal and its shorter sides provided with reentrant recesses at the corners, said members being arranged in box-formation with the shorter sides of each member overlapping adjacent longer panel not in excess of such thickness, .and lat. erally spaced loops of uniform width and tri engaged loops of the member, said keys being inl setback-relation to the solid edges at the corners of the container.

4. In a knockdown containerstructure, a' wallforming unit comprising a rectangular panel ofgreater length than widthand having corner recesses similarly of a depth greater in the width direction of the panel than the thickness of the latter but in the lengthwise direction of the angular cross-section at each corner of the panel and arranged in two separate groups. extending outwardly of the edges of the panel on vopposite sides respectively of and in setback relation to the intervening corner of the panel with the loops on the longer side of the panel located within a maximum distance from said corner not exceeding the maximum depth of the corner recess and the loops on the shorter side of the panel disposed within the corner recess and setback from the corner a distance exceeding by the width of a loop the setback distance of the companion loops on 'the longer side of the panel,

' each loop having a straight portion substantially sides of two adjoining members andV providingthree vmutually perpendicular reentrant recesses adjacent and converging at each corner of the container and s'olid portions forming the edges of the container between the recessed corners. v of the latter, and separable fastening means bein the plane of the inner face of the panel and extending forwardly of the adjacent edgethereof a distance not exceeding the minimum depth of a corner recess and'having an inclined portion extending across the edge oi' the panel obliquely between the outer face of the panel and the upper end of the said 4:straight portion.. L

,' GLYNN 'A RTNIE BRITTON.' 

